Laser Focus World is an industry bedrock—first published in 1965 and still going strong. We publish original articles about cutting-edge advances in lasers, optics, photonics, sensors, and quantum technologies, as well as test and measurement, and the shift currently underway to usher in the photonic integrated circuits, optical interconnects, and copackaged electronics and photonics to deliver the speed and efficiency essential for data centers of the future.

Our 80,000 qualified print subscribers—and 130,000 12-month engaged online audience—trust us to dive in and provide original journalism you won’t find elsewhere covering key emerging areas such as laser-driven inertial confinement fusion, lasers in space, integrated photonics, chipscale lasers, LiDAR, metasurfaces, high-energy laser weaponry, photonic crystals, and quantum computing/sensors/communications. We cover the innovations driving these markets.

Laser Focus World is part of Endeavor Business Media, a division of EndeavorB2B.

Laser Focus World Membership

Never miss any articles, videos, podcasts, or webinars by signing up for membership access to Laser Focus World online. You can manage your preferences all in one place—and provide our editorial team with your valued feedback.

Magazine Subscription

Can you subscribe to receive our print issue for free? Yes, you sure can!

Newsletter Subscription

Laser Focus World newsletter subscription is free to qualified professionals:

The Daily Beam

Showcases the newest content from Laser Focus World, including photonics- and optics-based applications, components, research, and trends. (Daily)

Product Watch

The latest in products within the photonics industry. (9x per year)

Bio & Life Sciences Product Watch

The latest in products within the biophotonics industry. (4x per year)

Laser Processing Product Watch

The latest in products within the laser processing industry. (3x per year)

Get Published!

If you’d like to write an article for us, reach out with a short pitch to Sally Cole Johnson: [email protected]. We love to hear from you.

Photonics Hot List

Laser Focus World produces a video newscast that gives a peek into what’s happening in the world of photonics.

Following the Photons: A Photonics Podcast

Following the Photons: A Photonics Podcast dives deep into the fascinating world of photonics. Our weekly episodes feature interviews and discussions with industry and research experts, providing valuable perspectives on the issues, technologies, and trends shaping the photonics community.

Editorial Advisory Board

  • Professor Andrea M. Armani, University of Southern California
  • Ruti Ben-Shlomi, Ph.D., LightSolver
  • James Butler, Ph.D., Hamamatsu
  • Natalie Fardian-Melamed, Ph.D., Columbia University
  • Justin Sigley, Ph.D., AmeriCOM
  • Professor Birgit Stiller, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, and Leibniz University of Hannover
  • Professor Stephen Sweeney, University of Glasgow
  • Mohan Wang, Ph.D., University of Oxford
  • Professor Xuchen Wang, Harbin Engineering University
  • Professor Stefan Witte, Delft University of Technology

Peace organisation calls on workers to withhold tax until government commits to funding peace

A leading peace activist is calling on UK taxpayers to stop paying monies to HMRC until the government commits to allocating some of its defence budget to peace.

David Allan, founder of Humanity’s Mutual Reconciliation Coalition, a group dedicated to prioritising peace over profit has issued a call to action to help bring about peace across the world by 2030.

The lifetime peace campaigner says drastic action is now needed and is calling on people to halt paying money to the government; instead, letting HMRC know the money will be released when demands for funding peace are met.

David explains: “To put it simply we are calling for a ‘no peace, no tax’ situation.  We urge those who value peace to withhold taxes until the government invests in peace as much as it does in war. Peace isn’t free, it’s time our taxes bought it.”

The call to action comes at a time when the defence spending is surging. The UK plans to spend an additional £70 billion on defence over five years, reaching £87 billion annually by 2030, yet, David says, neglects peace initiatives. 

He adds: “We want an office in parliament dedicated to peace initiatives before we release our tax.  There is currently no dedicated office or budget for peace, despite public support for diplomacy and the UK’s history with UN peace building.”

The Peace by 2030 movement is asking the government, via a call for tax resistance, to commit at least £1.25 billion annually, which is 10% of the defence budget increase, to a peace initiatives office.

“We need public pressure,” says David. “Organise rallies, petitions and social media campaigns. Our taxes should build peace, not just bombs. Tax payers fund the state and deserve a say.”

David adds: “The legal framing for this is simple – it is civil disobedience. We ask that tax payers notify HMRC via letter, available from us, that they will be redirecting funds to a holding account as a good faith gesture until the demands are met.”

While David does acknowledge that the withholding of tax comes with the risk of fines and potential jail time, he adds that: “mass defiance, e.g. tax rebellion, can overwhelm enforcement.” 

“This is about mass mobilisation. We have to take the military approach, the way it is taken to wars. If one million taxpayers withhold £500 each, that’s £500 million to pressure Westminster – paired with marches and other campaigns.”

“This isn’t just a protest, it’s a reckoning: We fund the government – let’s stop paying until they listen: Peace isn’t free, its time our taxes bought it.”

Stock Quote API & Stock News API supplied by www.cloudquote.io
Quotes delayed at least 20 minutes.
By accessing this page, you agree to the following
Privacy Policy and Terms Of Service.